I'm doing up a room in my Victorian terraced house.The room used to
have an open fire which was long ago blocked up and plastered over.
I'm thinking of opening it up again. The room has a central heating
radiator on another wall, so the fire isn't needed for heating - it'll
be purely for looks. However I want to add value to the property
rather than tract from it. I'm not sure how the average house-buyer
rates open fireplaces.

What is the concensus? Are open fires liked or disliked?

Personally I can see several disadvantages: draughts coming down the
chimney, ash and soot threatening to mess up the carpet, etc.

Thanks for your opinions.

Frank

In message , Frank Z
writes

I'm doing up a room in my Victorian terraced house.The room used to
have an open fire which was long ago blocked up and plastered over.
I'm thinking of opening it up again

What is the concensus? Are open fires liked or disliked?

I think in period properties in particular things like this are valued,
in general period features are a positive. Ok this would be a new one,
but done well in the correct period style the house would benefit.

It probably won't add much value to the house, but it will probably
improve it's attractiveness to buyers.

Personally I can see several disadvantages: draughts coming down the
chimney, ash and soot threatening to mess up the carpet, etc.

Drafts are easily dealt with - you can get balloon type things that go
up the chimney
--
Chris French, Leeds

(Frank Z) writes:

I'm doing up a room in my Victorian terraced house.The room used to
have an open fire which was long ago blocked up and plastered over.
I'm thinking of opening it up again. The room has a central heating
radiator on another wall, so the fire isn't needed for heating - it'll
be purely for looks. However I want to add value to the property
rather than tract from it. I'm not sure how the average house-buyer
rates open fireplaces.

What is the concensus? Are open fires liked or disliked?

Personally I can see several disadvantages: draughts coming down the
chimney, ash and soot threatening to mess up the carpet, etc.

Dunno about the consensus, but we love them. I suspect the open log
fire we have in the sitting room actually cools the house (by sucking all
the expensively oil centrally heated air up the chimney) but we don't
care. There's nothing like an open fire on a cold, wet, windy day.

--
"The road to Paradise is through Intercourse."
The uk.transport FAQ; http://www.huge.org.uk/transport/FAQ.html
[email me at huge [at] huge [dot] org [dot] uk]

"Frank Z" wrote in message
...

I'm doing up a room in my Victorian terraced house.The room used to
have an open fire which was long ago blocked up and plastered over.
I'm thinking of opening it up again. The room has a central heating
radiator on another wall, so the fire isn't needed for heating - it'll
be purely for looks. However I want to add value to the property
rather than tract from it. I'm not sure how the average house-buyer
rates open fireplaces.

What is the concensus? Are open fires liked or disliked?

Personally I can see several disadvantages: draughts coming down the
chimney, ash and soot threatening to mess up the carpet, etc.

Thanks for your opinions.

Frank
We had two open fires (the house originally and 4 plus a range in the
kitchen.)
We found in no wind the fire didn't draw and the smoke blew back in high
wind the fire roared and the heat went up the chiminey. We however wanted a
fire as it's a good addition to hugely expensive LPG gas, and we have lots
of trees that need prunning. So we have no fitted a stove, (traditional box
type) in the living room, which has a large glasss window it works very well
,is very controllable and heats the kettle when the electricity goes off in
the winter.
For the "best room" we are going to fit, an inset stove ie a stove that is
built in , it still has an entire steel inner case but has an outer one as
well, between the two air circulates and so most of the heat still flows out
to the room. dust aand smoke is contained but you still have that nice warm
fire ...
The Q

On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 19:43:34 +0100, "The Q"
wrote:


"Frank Z" wrote in message
...

I'm doing up a room in my Victorian terraced house.The room used to
have an open fire which was long ago blocked up and plastered over.
I'm thinking of opening it up again. The room has a central heating
radiator on another wall, so the fire isn't needed for heating - it'll
be purely for looks. However I want to add value to the property
rather than tract from it. I'm not sure how the average house-buyer
rates open fireplaces.

What is the concensus? Are open fires liked or disliked?

Personally I can see several disadvantages: draughts coming down the
chimney, ash and soot threatening to mess up the carpet, etc.

Thanks for your opinions.

Frank
We had two open fires (the house originally and 4 plus a range in the
kitchen.)
We found in no wind the fire didn't draw and the smoke blew back in high
wind the fire roared and the heat went up the chiminey. We however wanted a
fire as it's a good addition to hugely expensive LPG gas, and we have lots
of trees that need prunning. So we have no fitted a stove, (traditional box
type) in the living room, which has a large glasss window it works very well
,is very controllable and heats the kettle when the electricity goes off in
the winter.
For the "best room" we are going to fit, an inset stove ie a stove that is
built in , it still has an entire steel inner case but has an outer one as
well, between the two air circulates and so most of the heat still flows out
to the room. dust aand smoke is contained but you still have that nice warm
fire ...

Oh, yes - that's an idea... Thee was one of those in my parents' house
when I was a boy... made of cast iron, with asbestos panes in the
doors IIRC...

Thanks for the suggestion,

Frank

I like open fires as they are untamed and have character about them
that "living flame" gas fires can never match; they are really a bit like
smoking a pipe, since you're forever fiddling with them, adjusting the
logs and vent etc. For me they are a plus, but I cannot speak for others.
Many people think uPVC is the best thing since sliced bread, but I
think it's ugly and heartless, but I seem to be in a minority. I've never
had
problems with smoke blowing back or a good draw, I guess that depends
the height and situation of your chimney. As for draughts, if you get a wood
stove or inset firebox, both of these have vents which allow more economical
burning and importantly control of draughts when the fire is out of action.

Andy.

"The Q" wrote in message
...

"Frank Z" wrote in message
...

I'm doing up a room in my Victorian terraced house.The room used to
have an open fire which was long ago blocked up and plastered over.
I'm thinking of opening it up again. The room has a central heating
radiator on another wall, so the fire isn't needed for heating - it'll
be purely for looks. However I want to add value to the property
rather than tract from it. I'm not sure how the average house-buyer
rates open fireplaces.

What is the concensus? Are open fires liked or disliked?

Personally I can see several disadvantages: draughts coming down the
chimney, ash and soot threatening to mess up the carpet, etc.

Thanks for your opinions.

Frank
We had two open fires (the house originally and 4 plus a range in the
kitchen.)
We found in no wind the fire didn't draw and the smoke blew back in high
wind the fire roared and the heat went up the chiminey. We however wanted
a
fire as it's a good addition to hugely expensive LPG gas, and we have lots
of trees that need prunning. So we have no fitted a stove, (traditional
box
type) in the living room, which has a large glasss window it works very
well
,is very controllable and heats the kettle when the electricity goes off
in
the winter.
For the "best room" we are going to fit, an inset stove ie a stove that is
built in , it still has an entire steel inner case but has an outer one as
well, between the two air circulates and so most of the heat still flows
out
to the room. dust aand smoke is contained but you still have that nice
warm
fire ...
The Q

"andrewpreece" wrote in message
...
I like open fires as they are untamed and have character about them
that "living flame" gas fires can never match; they are really a bit like
smoking a pipe, since you're forever fiddling with them, adjusting the
logs and vent etc. For me they are a plus, but I cannot speak for others.
Many people think uPVC is the best thing since sliced bread, but I
think it's ugly and heartless, but I seem to be in a minority. Andy.

Andy
You're not alone, I deeply loathe uPVC etc in any period building.
Toby

Thanks to everyone for the input. Do those gas powered imitation coal
fires require a flue?

Frank